Is there any point in treating advanced lung cancer at the age of 70?

Advanced lung cancer at the age of 70 is still worth treating. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and prolong survival. Treatment methods include drug therapy, radiotherapy, palliative care, and supportive care.

1. Drug therapy is one of the important means of treating advanced lung cancer. Targeted therapy targets specific gene mutations, such as EGFR, ALK, etc. Commonly used drugs include gefitinib and crizotinib. Immunotherapy fights cancer cells by activating the immune system. Commonly used drugs include pembrolizumab and nivolumab. Chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin and carboplatin can inhibit the growth of cancer cells, but attention should be paid to side effect management.

2. Radiotherapy is mainly used to relieve symptoms in advanced lung cancer. Precision radiotherapy techniques such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy and stereotactic radiotherapy can relieve pain and relieve dyspnea. Palliative radiotherapy targets bone metastasis, brain metastasis, etc., and can effectively improve the quality of life.

3. Palliative care and supportive care are important safeguards for patients with advanced lung cancer. Pain management uses opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. Nutritional support improves the patient's physical condition through enteral nutrition and intravenous nutrition. Psychological support helps patients and their families cope with the stress of the disease and improve their quality of life.

4. The formulation of a comprehensive treatment plan needs to take into account factors such as the patient's age, physical condition, and tumor characteristics. Multidisciplinary team collaboration can optimize the treatment plan, including the participation of experts from oncology, respiratory medicine, radiotherapy, nutrition, and psychology. Regularly evaluate the treatment effect and adjust the plan in a timely manner to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the treatment.

70-year-old patients with advanced lung cancer can still achieve a better quality of life and prolong their survival through scientific and reasonable treatment. Patients and their families should actively communicate with doctors, understand treatment plans, and cooperate with treatment. At the same time, they should pay attention to the patient's mental state, provide emotional support, and face the challenges of the disease together.